MAC Tuesday 2/25
- Thread starter hellah10
- Start date
ststrl said:Hellah TELL ME Kent will finally get us a W!!!!!!!!
yea no shitttt man...I was just thinking the same thing. Iam doing some homework now...I`ll get around with a write-up....
But I sure do like my picks for tomorrow...:yup
Hellah, hope I'm not bringing you bad luck taking your Rockets, but it's my POD. Like Kent, but swore off those jerks for the rest of this season.
Mr. Wizard
Mr. Wizard
mr. wizard said:
Wizard, its funny cause when I saw the line I felt the same way. Kent has BURNED me all year but i just saw it and couldn't resist. They know they must take this game if they still have NCAA tourney hopes.
like your plays. i was able to get kent at -2 1/2 and waiting for c mich to at least go down to -10. it's at -10 1/2 now.
good luck
good luck
something really fishy here-
something really fishy here-
Buffalo opens @ +6 against a good Toledo team after being embarrassed @ home the other day. Everyone is on Toledo early, but line gets hit down to +5 @ Pinnacle. Something doesn't smell right here. Thoughts?
wcb4
something really fishy here-
Buffalo opens @ +6 against a good Toledo team after being embarrassed @ home the other day. Everyone is on Toledo early, but line gets hit down to +5 @ Pinnacle. Something doesn't smell right here. Thoughts?
wcb4
Re: something really fishy here-
Re: something really fishy here-
I checked the line this morning and felt the same thing. I think people may be over analyzing that Eastern Mich went into Buffalo and got spanked, and recently Eastern Mich goes to Toledo and beats them there. Buffalo is in a huge funk right now, granted Toledo isn't much better, but I think Buffalo is w/o their #1 scorer tonite, while they actually had him vs. Eastern Mich. Plus those other handicappers are w/o the brilliant MAC knowledge of Hellah!
Re: something really fishy here-
wcb4 said:Buffalo opens @ +6 against a good Toledo team after being embarrassed @ home the other day. Everyone is on Toledo early, but line gets hit down to +5 @ Pinnacle. Something doesn't smell right here. Thoughts?
wcb4
I checked the line this morning and felt the same thing. I think people may be over analyzing that Eastern Mich went into Buffalo and got spanked, and recently Eastern Mich goes to Toledo and beats them there. Buffalo is in a huge funk right now, granted Toledo isn't much better, but I think Buffalo is w/o their #1 scorer tonite, while they actually had him vs. Eastern Mich. Plus those other handicappers are w/o the brilliant MAC knowledge of Hellah!
Iam on Toledo because....
The main reason why Iam on Toledo is simple really...despite the record the Rockets have, they have been in EVERY SINGLE BALL GAME....seriously!! The only game they really got their ass whooped in was the Marshall game, other then that, they had the lead with a minute left or so. And despite them being in last place they still have a chance to go to the MAC Tourny. In this conference, thats what its all about - the MAC Tourny. You can shit played the whole year - but when you go into the Tourny, like they say "...Its a whole nother world..." Charlie Coles is KING of this, his teams werent allright in regular season, but it seems like every single MAC Tourny he takes his team to the finals.
Other reasons why, I mean come on folks....Buffalo sucks! If any of you had the chance to watch the Miami/Buffalo game, you`d know exactly what Iam talking about. They have shit fan support, the have shit players, and they have NO inside game what-so-ever. AJ Shallabarger and Ricardo Thomas will have no problems at all....it`ll be men amongst boys. Buffalo was luanching up 3's and they arent even a 3 point shooting team!! They dont even have any 3 point shooters. They turned the ball over it seemed like every damn possession. They have no confidence - no chemistry - and no business being in the MAC. But like I said before - Toledo needs to get into the Tourny....THEY MUST...STAN MUST!! Otherwise - people in Toledo are gonna be calling for his head...
The main reason why Iam on Toledo is simple really...despite the record the Rockets have, they have been in EVERY SINGLE BALL GAME....seriously!! The only game they really got their ass whooped in was the Marshall game, other then that, they had the lead with a minute left or so. And despite them being in last place they still have a chance to go to the MAC Tourny. In this conference, thats what its all about - the MAC Tourny. You can shit played the whole year - but when you go into the Tourny, like they say "...Its a whole nother world..." Charlie Coles is KING of this, his teams werent allright in regular season, but it seems like every single MAC Tourny he takes his team to the finals.
Other reasons why, I mean come on folks....Buffalo sucks! If any of you had the chance to watch the Miami/Buffalo game, you`d know exactly what Iam talking about. They have shit fan support, the have shit players, and they have NO inside game what-so-ever. AJ Shallabarger and Ricardo Thomas will have no problems at all....it`ll be men amongst boys. Buffalo was luanching up 3's and they arent even a 3 point shooting team!! They dont even have any 3 point shooters. They turned the ball over it seemed like every damn possession. They have no confidence - no chemistry - and no business being in the MAC. But like I said before - Toledo needs to get into the Tourny....THEY MUST...STAN MUST!! Otherwise - people in Toledo are gonna be calling for his head...
Iam on Central because...
They are the most complete team I have seen in the MAC since the Wally Szerbiack(spelling) days. They have a big man in Kaman and have 2 AWESOME guards with JR Wallace and Mike Manciel. They have great depth, and gotta love Kevin Nelson with his aggressive style of play. In fact, thats how all those Detroit Country Day players play like. And again, Iam not basing this pick because Akron was in OT and blah blah...thats factored in the line anyways....Akron doesnt have the depth to handle the guards. Now obviously Derek Tarver and Johnny Hollingsworth are gonna be a problem to the Chips - but CMU has been playing better defense as of late...and they have faced great great guards this season so far - I think they know what to expect. Akron on the road sucks this year - in fact they get blown out on the road. The only game they did well in the MAC was against Northern Illinois - whom has been proven to not defend their home court that well.
Another reason why I think CMU wins by double digits is cuz of rebounding. CMU will have a BIG advantage with Kaman - and even Kamans backup (Gerrit Brigitha). Folks dont forget.....Kaman is #2 in the nation in DOUBLE DOUBLES. #1 is Brandon Hunter by the way....and thats in the NATION. #3 is David West...
CMU is rank 4th in the nation with a .507 FG percentage And against this soft ass D -- they should have no problems converting 50% again. And obvisouly Kaman is all the Chips success. JR Wallace is averaging 19 points a game and 6 assists. Like I said, complete team...from top to bottom.
http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/cmu/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/gn022503.pdf
They are the most complete team I have seen in the MAC since the Wally Szerbiack(spelling) days. They have a big man in Kaman and have 2 AWESOME guards with JR Wallace and Mike Manciel. They have great depth, and gotta love Kevin Nelson with his aggressive style of play. In fact, thats how all those Detroit Country Day players play like. And again, Iam not basing this pick because Akron was in OT and blah blah...thats factored in the line anyways....Akron doesnt have the depth to handle the guards. Now obviously Derek Tarver and Johnny Hollingsworth are gonna be a problem to the Chips - but CMU has been playing better defense as of late...and they have faced great great guards this season so far - I think they know what to expect. Akron on the road sucks this year - in fact they get blown out on the road. The only game they did well in the MAC was against Northern Illinois - whom has been proven to not defend their home court that well.
Another reason why I think CMU wins by double digits is cuz of rebounding. CMU will have a BIG advantage with Kaman - and even Kamans backup (Gerrit Brigitha). Folks dont forget.....Kaman is #2 in the nation in DOUBLE DOUBLES. #1 is Brandon Hunter by the way....and thats in the NATION. #3 is David West...
CMU is rank 4th in the nation with a .507 FG percentage
And against this soft ass D -- they should have no problems converting 50% again. And obvisouly Kaman is all the Chips success. JR Wallace is averaging 19 points a game and 6 assists. Like I said, complete team...from top to bottom. http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/cmu/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/gn022503.pdf
Adding...
Northern Illinois +6.5: Road Tested Warriors - and Danny Horace out for the Hawks
Northern Illinois +215
Toledo -2.5 1st Half
Re-up...
Toledo -5
Northern Illinois +6.5: Road Tested Warriors - and Danny Horace out for the Hawks
Northern Illinois +215
Toledo -2.5 1st Half
Re-up...
Toledo -5
Miami battles road warrior NIU in key MAC game
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RedHawks will be without star forward Horace
By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor
Northern Illinois University opened a brand-new basketball arena this season, but the Huskies are happier when they're on the road.
So far, NIU's new Convocation Center has been more like the proverbial doghouse for its residents. The Huskies are only 6-6 at home; 3-4 against Mid-American Conference teams. However, they've gone 8-4 on the road; 7-0 in the MAC.
The Huskies (14-10, 10-4 MAC), will try to extend that streak tonight when they play Miami (12-11,10-4 MAC) in a crucial league game at Millett Hall at 7 p.m.
Miami will be without 6-foot-5 sophomore forward Danny Horace, who will serve the first game of a two-game suspension he received after an altercation with Buffalo's B.J. Walker during Miami's win Saturday.
Gene Seals, the 6-6 junior who scored 12 points and grabbed 16 rebounds while playing all 40 minutes in Miami's 78-70 win at NIU last season, will start in Horace's place.
The teams are tied for third place overall in the conference, and Miami is a half-game behind Kent State, which plays at Marshall tonight, in the MAC East Division. The Huskies trail first-place Central Michigan by a full game in the West Division.
The two division champions and the team with the next best record earn first-round byes in the MAC tournament.
Miami assistant coach James Whitford, who scouted NIU, credits the team's discipline for its success away from home.
"They are a very good team," Whitford said. "They're a team without any superstars, but they all identify in their roles.
"The other thing you need to win on the road is defense. Your shooting can come and go, but you always have defense."
That's one reason Miami won its last two road games. Saturday's 63-35 win at Buffalo made this year's team the first since the 1946-47 squad to hold at least three opponents to fewer than 40 points.
The Huskies are led by 6-foot-6 junior forward Marcus Smallwood, who leads the conference in offensive rebounding and is third in overall rebounding. The Huskies lead the MAC with a plus-8.9 rebounding margin in conference play.
Smallwood, whose 13.7 points per game average is second to junior guard P.J. Smith's 13.9, has produced 11 double-doubles this season.
"Marcus throws his heart over the rim and then goes up and gets it," NIU coach Rob Judson said. "He's just a warrior out there on the floor for us."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RedHawks will be without star forward Horace
By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor
Northern Illinois University opened a brand-new basketball arena this season, but the Huskies are happier when they're on the road.
So far, NIU's new Convocation Center has been more like the proverbial doghouse for its residents. The Huskies are only 6-6 at home; 3-4 against Mid-American Conference teams. However, they've gone 8-4 on the road; 7-0 in the MAC.
The Huskies (14-10, 10-4 MAC), will try to extend that streak tonight when they play Miami (12-11,10-4 MAC) in a crucial league game at Millett Hall at 7 p.m.
Miami will be without 6-foot-5 sophomore forward Danny Horace, who will serve the first game of a two-game suspension he received after an altercation with Buffalo's B.J. Walker during Miami's win Saturday.
Gene Seals, the 6-6 junior who scored 12 points and grabbed 16 rebounds while playing all 40 minutes in Miami's 78-70 win at NIU last season, will start in Horace's place.
The teams are tied for third place overall in the conference, and Miami is a half-game behind Kent State, which plays at Marshall tonight, in the MAC East Division. The Huskies trail first-place Central Michigan by a full game in the West Division.
The two division champions and the team with the next best record earn first-round byes in the MAC tournament.
Miami assistant coach James Whitford, who scouted NIU, credits the team's discipline for its success away from home.
"They are a very good team," Whitford said. "They're a team without any superstars, but they all identify in their roles.
"The other thing you need to win on the road is defense. Your shooting can come and go, but you always have defense."
That's one reason Miami won its last two road games. Saturday's 63-35 win at Buffalo made this year's team the first since the 1946-47 squad to hold at least three opponents to fewer than 40 points.
The Huskies are led by 6-foot-6 junior forward Marcus Smallwood, who leads the conference in offensive rebounding and is third in overall rebounding. The Huskies lead the MAC with a plus-8.9 rebounding margin in conference play.
Smallwood, whose 13.7 points per game average is second to junior guard P.J. Smith's 13.9, has produced 11 double-doubles this season.
"Marcus throws his heart over the rim and then goes up and gets it," NIU coach Rob Judson said. "He's just a warrior out there on the floor for us."
NIU Men's Basketball Preview:
By Steve Nemeth -- Chronicle Sports Editor
Northern Illinois University (14-10/10-4) at Miami University (12-11/10-4), Tuesday / Feb. 25 / 6 p.m. (CST)
Site: MU's Millett Hall, Oxford,Ohio. Radio: Huskie Radio Network on WLBK-AM (1360 khz/DeKalb) with pregame 5:40 p.m. with Bill Baker play-by-play and Sid Simmons color commentary. The Fans' Tip-Off: From the frying pan to the fire. That's one way to view the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team's task tonight at Miami University. There's no time to lament the Central Michigan University loss, at least not with the "RedHot" RedHawks awaiting NIU's arrival. Remember the suggestion earlier this season that the Huskies were in "against all the odds" scenario. Well, this is worse. For Northern Illinois, MU's Millett Hall is The Temple of Huskie Doom. Of all the Mid-American Conference foes, this is where NIU has its worst won-lost percentage -- .067. Only once in 15 visits have the Huskies returned happy (a rare 75-63 victory on Feb. 21, 1981). This is a series where the home team always has the edge. Miami stands 3-10 in trips to DeKalb having not managed a win since their past life as Ron Harper-led Redskins in 1984. The present-day RedHawks were treated to a 78-70 loss last year in the current series of opposite division one-time crossover foes. While CMU now leads the West and Kent State University is atop the East, both Northern Illinois and Miami are fighting for one of three "free" passes to Cleveland's Gund Arena. The fourth-best record has to earn its way via another home win and tonight's contest could certainly play a major role in deciding that situation. And something has to give in another respect: MU is 6-1 against MAC visitors this year -- an impressive 75.5% all-time (326-106) won-loss record at Millett -- whereas the Huskies are a remarkable 7-0 for road trips. They're one of five teams among the nation's top 20 conferences who are unbeaten in league away games -- No. 1-ranked Arizona (7-0), No. 2 Kentucky (6-0), tied for 33rd Weber State (5-0), and Valparaiso (5-0). Although Central Michigan dealt NIU only its second loss in the last 12 games, and each time the Huskies had a five-game win streak ended, they bounced back with a win, Miami has claimed eight of its last 10 with both setbacks being on the road. MU's current three-game win streak includes being fresh from back-to-back road victories (55-53 at Akron and 63-35 at Buffalo -- which was a costly loss in that No. 2 scorer Danny Horace threw a punch and must sit out the next two games). But Miami's success has been built on team defense. It's one of the reasons the Dean of MAC Hoop Coaches Charlie Coles was written up by Sports Illustrated earlier this year, although predominantly for being the only Division I bench boss still teaching a class. The lectures mix great stories with great X & O chalk sessions on defending the ball. The RedHawks are ranked No. 1 in the MAC in both scoring defense yielding only 58.7 points-per-game and field goal percentage defense, pestering foes into just .416 shooting overall, and No. 2 in 3-Pt. FG% defense (.314). While Miami is rated 12th for rebound margin (-3.0 rpg.), part of that is because the RedHawks play a deliberate style of ball (having launched the fewest shots among all Mid-Am teams [1,093 -- 64 less than the next closest team and 88 fewer than NIU] which coupled with a 42.8 shooting percentage doesn't allow for a lot of boards. So how do the Huskies win? In all four losses, Miami's opponents had more offensive boards and not only got significantly more free throw tries, but cashed in 70 percent or more. Combine those two factors with a reduction of the CMU turnover count, plus have one or two of the Huskies' three outside gunners -- P.J. Smith, Al Sewasciuk or Todd Peterson -- support Marcus Smallwood with a big double-digit night, and
By Steve Nemeth -- Chronicle Sports Editor
Northern Illinois University (14-10/10-4) at Miami University (12-11/10-4), Tuesday / Feb. 25 / 6 p.m. (CST)
Site: MU's Millett Hall, Oxford,Ohio. Radio: Huskie Radio Network on WLBK-AM (1360 khz/DeKalb) with pregame 5:40 p.m. with Bill Baker play-by-play and Sid Simmons color commentary. The Fans' Tip-Off: From the frying pan to the fire. That's one way to view the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team's task tonight at Miami University. There's no time to lament the Central Michigan University loss, at least not with the "RedHot" RedHawks awaiting NIU's arrival. Remember the suggestion earlier this season that the Huskies were in "against all the odds" scenario. Well, this is worse. For Northern Illinois, MU's Millett Hall is The Temple of Huskie Doom. Of all the Mid-American Conference foes, this is where NIU has its worst won-lost percentage -- .067. Only once in 15 visits have the Huskies returned happy (a rare 75-63 victory on Feb. 21, 1981). This is a series where the home team always has the edge. Miami stands 3-10 in trips to DeKalb having not managed a win since their past life as Ron Harper-led Redskins in 1984. The present-day RedHawks were treated to a 78-70 loss last year in the current series of opposite division one-time crossover foes. While CMU now leads the West and Kent State University is atop the East, both Northern Illinois and Miami are fighting for one of three "free" passes to Cleveland's Gund Arena. The fourth-best record has to earn its way via another home win and tonight's contest could certainly play a major role in deciding that situation. And something has to give in another respect: MU is 6-1 against MAC visitors this year -- an impressive 75.5% all-time (326-106) won-loss record at Millett -- whereas the Huskies are a remarkable 7-0 for road trips. They're one of five teams among the nation's top 20 conferences who are unbeaten in league away games -- No. 1-ranked Arizona (7-0), No. 2 Kentucky (6-0), tied for 33rd Weber State (5-0), and Valparaiso (5-0). Although Central Michigan dealt NIU only its second loss in the last 12 games, and each time the Huskies had a five-game win streak ended, they bounced back with a win, Miami has claimed eight of its last 10 with both setbacks being on the road. MU's current three-game win streak includes being fresh from back-to-back road victories (55-53 at Akron and 63-35 at Buffalo -- which was a costly loss in that No. 2 scorer Danny Horace threw a punch and must sit out the next two games). But Miami's success has been built on team defense. It's one of the reasons the Dean of MAC Hoop Coaches Charlie Coles was written up by Sports Illustrated earlier this year, although predominantly for being the only Division I bench boss still teaching a class. The lectures mix great stories with great X & O chalk sessions on defending the ball. The RedHawks are ranked No. 1 in the MAC in both scoring defense yielding only 58.7 points-per-game and field goal percentage defense, pestering foes into just .416 shooting overall, and No. 2 in 3-Pt. FG% defense (.314). While Miami is rated 12th for rebound margin (-3.0 rpg.), part of that is because the RedHawks play a deliberate style of ball (having launched the fewest shots among all Mid-Am teams [1,093 -- 64 less than the next closest team and 88 fewer than NIU] which coupled with a 42.8 shooting percentage doesn't allow for a lot of boards. So how do the Huskies win? In all four losses, Miami's opponents had more offensive boards and not only got significantly more free throw tries, but cashed in 70 percent or more. Combine those two factors with a reduction of the CMU turnover count, plus have one or two of the Huskies' three outside gunners -- P.J. Smith, Al Sewasciuk or Todd Peterson -- support Marcus Smallwood with a big double-digit night, and
Miami confident despite Horace's absence
Forward suspended for game against Northern Illinois
By Pete Conrad
Cox News Service
OXFORD | The Miami RedHawks are shrugging their shoulders, taking a "so be it" attitude about the best rebounding team in the Mid-American Conference in an important game with their own best inside player sitting out a suspension.
Miami's 6-foot-5, 230-pound sophomore forward Danny Horace, who has averaged 13.4 points and 6.5 rebounds in conference games, will be glued to the sideline tonight when the RedHawks play host to the Northern Illinois Huskies at Millett Hall.
Horace is serving the first of what probably will be a two-game mandatory suspension for his altercation with Buffalo freshman B.J. Walker during the first half of the RedHawks' 63-35 victory at Buffalo Saturday.
The NCAA has an automatic one-game suspension for player ejections due to fighting. On Monday the RedHawks still were waiting to hear from the MAC office whether the conference's new rule that "a first-time fighting penalty will now result in a minimum two-game suspension" will apply to Horace. If it does ? and there is little reason to think the MAC will decide otherwise ? Horace also will miss Miami's game Saturday at Bowling Green.
"We haven't gotten an official ruling from the MAC office," assistant basketball coach James Whitford, said. Miami head coach Charlie Coles was unavailable for comment because he was away from the office and not expected to return Monday.
"It is what it is," Whitford added, "and it's out of our hands, and honestly we're not worried about it."
The weight of the problem facing Miami is lessened somewhat by the presence of Gene Seals, Miami's 6-6, 200-pound junior forward who will take Horace's place in the starting lineup.
"The fortunate part for us is that we probably have the best sixth man in the conference," Whitford said of Seals, who averages 5.3 points and 2.6 rebounds. The last time Seals faced Northern Illinois, he recorded a double-double, finishing with 12 points and 16 rebounds in the RedHawks' 78-70 loss in DeKalb, Ill. last season.
Although NIU leads the conference in both rebounds per game and rebounding margin (8.9 per game) since the start of the MAC season, Whitford said Horace's absence won't necessarily put the RedHawks at a disadvantage.
"Their (inside) players are a lot like Eugene," Whitford said. "They're small, quick players."
The quickest might be Marcus Smallwood, a 6-6 junior who averages 13.7 points and 10.1 rebounds and is tied for second among active players in the MAC with 102 career blocked shots.
Junior P.J. Smith leads the Huskies in scoring (13.9).
the best rebounding team in the Mid-American Conference
Forward suspended for game against Northern Illinois
By Pete Conrad
Cox News Service
OXFORD | The Miami RedHawks are shrugging their shoulders, taking a "so be it" attitude about the best rebounding team in the Mid-American Conference in an important game with their own best inside player sitting out a suspension.
Miami's 6-foot-5, 230-pound sophomore forward Danny Horace, who has averaged 13.4 points and 6.5 rebounds in conference games, will be glued to the sideline tonight when the RedHawks play host to the Northern Illinois Huskies at Millett Hall.
Horace is serving the first of what probably will be a two-game mandatory suspension for his altercation with Buffalo freshman B.J. Walker during the first half of the RedHawks' 63-35 victory at Buffalo Saturday.
The NCAA has an automatic one-game suspension for player ejections due to fighting. On Monday the RedHawks still were waiting to hear from the MAC office whether the conference's new rule that "a first-time fighting penalty will now result in a minimum two-game suspension" will apply to Horace. If it does ? and there is little reason to think the MAC will decide otherwise ? Horace also will miss Miami's game Saturday at Bowling Green.
"We haven't gotten an official ruling from the MAC office," assistant basketball coach James Whitford, said. Miami head coach Charlie Coles was unavailable for comment because he was away from the office and not expected to return Monday.
"It is what it is," Whitford added, "and it's out of our hands, and honestly we're not worried about it."
The weight of the problem facing Miami is lessened somewhat by the presence of Gene Seals, Miami's 6-6, 200-pound junior forward who will take Horace's place in the starting lineup.
"The fortunate part for us is that we probably have the best sixth man in the conference," Whitford said of Seals, who averages 5.3 points and 2.6 rebounds. The last time Seals faced Northern Illinois, he recorded a double-double, finishing with 12 points and 16 rebounds in the RedHawks' 78-70 loss in DeKalb, Ill. last season.
Although NIU leads the conference in both rebounds per game and rebounding margin (8.9 per game) since the start of the MAC season, Whitford said Horace's absence won't necessarily put the RedHawks at a disadvantage.
"Their (inside) players are a lot like Eugene," Whitford said. "They're small, quick players."
The quickest might be Marcus Smallwood, a 6-6 junior who averages 13.7 points and 10.1 rebounds and is tied for second among active players in the MAC with 102 career blocked shots.
Junior P.J. Smith leads the Huskies in scoring (13.9).
the best rebounding team in the Mid-American Conference
Herd, Kent battle in "championship"
Tuesday February 25, 2003
By Doug Smock
Staff writer
Last year, Marshall struggled to a 3-5 record in the month of February. The current Thundering Herd squad needs a Herculean effort tonight just to match that.
Marshall closes out the month?s schedule against Mid-American Conference East Division leader Kent State at 7:30 p.m. at the Henderson Center.
Both teams are slumping and need a win in a big way. In the race for the East Division lead, Kent (18-6 overall, 11-4 MAC) has been reeled in by Miami (Ohio), which is only a half-game back at 10-4.
?This is probably the biggest game of the year for us,? said forward Marvin Black. ?This is like a championship for our team.?
Marshall (11-12, 7-7) is 2-5 in February, but still stands in a three-way tie for fifth in the combined standings. Three other teams sit a game back in the battle to play host to a first-round game in the MAC tournament.
Kent State has lost four of its last five games, including a 79-78 Bracket Buster Saturday game against Hawaii. That loss gave the MAC an 0-4 record in the daylong showcase of mid-major teams and probably knocked the Golden Flashes out of the running for an NCAA tournament at-large berth.
MAC player-of-the-year candidate Antonio Gates led the Flashes in that game with 30 points, despite playing with a heavy knee brace. He sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee a week ago in Kent?s 98-55 rout of Buffalo.
Assuming Gates can go full-tilt, the Herd has had trouble stopping him and the rest of the Flashes. Kent has won the last six games, including a 71-58 January victory in northeast Ohio. Gates played strongly down the stretch, finishing with 18 points and 12 rebounds
In that game, Marshall stayed with the Flashes as Ronald Blackshear scored 22 points in the first 281/2 minutes. But Kent shut him out in the final 11:30 to win going away. Kent coach Jim Christian called it his team?s best defensive effort at the time.
Marshall needs to correct a number of problems after a 57-53 loss Saturday to Illinois State. For starters, Blackshear is in another shooting slump, going 9-of-33 in his last two games and 16-of-53 in his last three.
His teammates are doing little better, as the Herd has scored just 103 points in its last two games, the lowest two-game total in 23 years. Against Illinois State, Marshall struggled to shoot 36.4 percent.
?For me as a coach, I don?t think I?ve seen back-to-back 50-point games ? ever,? said MU coach Greg White. ?We got great shots in the first half, all-the-way-to-the-basket shots.?
Missed layups and close-in shots are simply killing the offense.
?We?ve got to make layups,? Black said. ?They?re high-percentage shots. It?s not like a 3-pointer. Once we learn how to finish plays, we?re going to be fine, but until then, we?re going to be an average team.?
?Our inability to make a layup baffles me, because we shoot hundreds of them a day,? White said. ?As a coach, if your running an offense and you get the ball to the rim, I can?t make a layup for them.?
Mercifully for the Herd, the game will not be televised. Marshall is 0-8 in televised games.
Tuesday February 25, 2003
By Doug Smock
Staff writer
Last year, Marshall struggled to a 3-5 record in the month of February. The current Thundering Herd squad needs a Herculean effort tonight just to match that.
Marshall closes out the month?s schedule against Mid-American Conference East Division leader Kent State at 7:30 p.m. at the Henderson Center.
Both teams are slumping and need a win in a big way. In the race for the East Division lead, Kent (18-6 overall, 11-4 MAC) has been reeled in by Miami (Ohio), which is only a half-game back at 10-4.
?This is probably the biggest game of the year for us,? said forward Marvin Black. ?This is like a championship for our team.?
Marshall (11-12, 7-7) is 2-5 in February, but still stands in a three-way tie for fifth in the combined standings. Three other teams sit a game back in the battle to play host to a first-round game in the MAC tournament.
Kent State has lost four of its last five games, including a 79-78 Bracket Buster Saturday game against Hawaii. That loss gave the MAC an 0-4 record in the daylong showcase of mid-major teams and probably knocked the Golden Flashes out of the running for an NCAA tournament at-large berth.
MAC player-of-the-year candidate Antonio Gates led the Flashes in that game with 30 points, despite playing with a heavy knee brace. He sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee a week ago in Kent?s 98-55 rout of Buffalo.
Assuming Gates can go full-tilt, the Herd has had trouble stopping him and the rest of the Flashes. Kent has won the last six games, including a 71-58 January victory in northeast Ohio. Gates played strongly down the stretch, finishing with 18 points and 12 rebounds
In that game, Marshall stayed with the Flashes as Ronald Blackshear scored 22 points in the first 281/2 minutes. But Kent shut him out in the final 11:30 to win going away. Kent coach Jim Christian called it his team?s best defensive effort at the time.
Marshall needs to correct a number of problems after a 57-53 loss Saturday to Illinois State. For starters, Blackshear is in another shooting slump, going 9-of-33 in his last two games and 16-of-53 in his last three.
His teammates are doing little better, as the Herd has scored just 103 points in its last two games, the lowest two-game total in 23 years. Against Illinois State, Marshall struggled to shoot 36.4 percent.
?For me as a coach, I don?t think I?ve seen back-to-back 50-point games ? ever,? said MU coach Greg White. ?We got great shots in the first half, all-the-way-to-the-basket shots.?
Missed layups and close-in shots are simply killing the offense.
?We?ve got to make layups,? Black said. ?They?re high-percentage shots. It?s not like a 3-pointer. Once we learn how to finish plays, we?re going to be fine, but until then, we?re going to be an average team.?
?Our inability to make a layup baffles me, because we shoot hundreds of them a day,? White said. ?As a coach, if your running an offense and you get the ball to the rim, I can?t make a layup for them.?
Mercifully for the Herd, the game will not be televised. Marshall is 0-8 in televised games.
Changes could be in store for Herd
White plans to juggle lineup for tonight?s key clash with Kent St.
By Rick McCann - The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON -- Drastic times call for drastic measures, and Marshall men?s basketball head coach Greg White wants to shake things up for tonight?s Kent State game.
Without naming specific players, White said he?s probably going to make some lineup changes.
"To see if we can get some more energy," he said.
Judging by Monday?s practice, the lineup could have regulars A.W. Hamilton, Marvin Black and Ronald Blackshear joined for the opening tip by David Anderson and Mark Patton. Anderson and Patton would replace Monty Wright and Ardo Armpalu.
The possible changes come after two poor offensive showings in losses to Miami (Ohio) and Illinois State.
Kent State (18-6, 11-4) visits Marshall (11-12, 7-7) for a Mid-American Conference game at 7:30 p.m.
Marshall needs a victory to keep pace with its competitors in a race for home-court seeding in the conference tournament. Marshall is tied with Western Michigan and Ball State for the fifth-best overall league record.
Kent State is in contention for a top three finish and first-round bye in the tournament that begins March 10 with teams seeded Nos. 4 through 8 playing at home.
"This is a big game for us," Hamilton said. ""We?ve just got to play hard and with a lot of confidence. We need to make sure we get home-court advantage. That?s a big factor."
It?s ironic that Hamilton?s best-scoring performance was wasted Saturday.
Coaches had been urging Hamilton to score more and the sophomore point guard tossed in 10 points, but Illinois State defeated Marshall, 57-53, in an ESPN Bracket Buster home game.
Marshall made only 36.2 percent of its shots against the Redbirds.
White considers anything within five-feet of the basket a layup, and the Thundering Herd missed at least a dozen of those.
"When you get the ball five-feet away, you?ve got to make it," White said. "Five-feet and in are the easy ones."
Marshall?s season shooting percentage has slipped to 47.2 while Kent State continues to rank among the national leaders at 50.4 percent while losing four of its last five games.
Kent State lost a home game to Hawaii, 79-78, when the MAC went 0-for-Bracket Buster Saturday.
The Golden Flashes beat Marshall, 71-58, at home Jan. 18 with Antonio Gates scoring 18 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Gates is playing on a sprained right knee, but scored 30 points in 36 minutes of action against Hawaii. He averages 21.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists.
"He?s just a good basketball player," White said of KSU?s 6-foot-5, 250-pound senior. "He makes his teammates better. For them to win, he?s got to make his teammates better."
KSU junior guard Eric Haut (15.4 ppg) tops the MAC in three-point shooting, hitting 72-of-158 for 45.6 percent.
Marshall counters with Blackshear scoring 21.4 points per game and also needs him to perform well, White said. Blackshear leads the league in free throw shooting (88.3 percent) and in three-pointers per game (3.61).
Black averages 12.0 points and 8.6 rebounds for the Herd.
White said neither of the teams carries momentum, so it becomes a game of which one wants it the most.
White plans to juggle lineup for tonight?s key clash with Kent St.
By Rick McCann - The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON -- Drastic times call for drastic measures, and Marshall men?s basketball head coach Greg White wants to shake things up for tonight?s Kent State game.
Without naming specific players, White said he?s probably going to make some lineup changes.
"To see if we can get some more energy," he said.
Judging by Monday?s practice, the lineup could have regulars A.W. Hamilton, Marvin Black and Ronald Blackshear joined for the opening tip by David Anderson and Mark Patton. Anderson and Patton would replace Monty Wright and Ardo Armpalu.
The possible changes come after two poor offensive showings in losses to Miami (Ohio) and Illinois State.
Kent State (18-6, 11-4) visits Marshall (11-12, 7-7) for a Mid-American Conference game at 7:30 p.m.
Marshall needs a victory to keep pace with its competitors in a race for home-court seeding in the conference tournament. Marshall is tied with Western Michigan and Ball State for the fifth-best overall league record.
Kent State is in contention for a top three finish and first-round bye in the tournament that begins March 10 with teams seeded Nos. 4 through 8 playing at home.
"This is a big game for us," Hamilton said. ""We?ve just got to play hard and with a lot of confidence. We need to make sure we get home-court advantage. That?s a big factor."
It?s ironic that Hamilton?s best-scoring performance was wasted Saturday.
Coaches had been urging Hamilton to score more and the sophomore point guard tossed in 10 points, but Illinois State defeated Marshall, 57-53, in an ESPN Bracket Buster home game.
Marshall made only 36.2 percent of its shots against the Redbirds.
White considers anything within five-feet of the basket a layup, and the Thundering Herd missed at least a dozen of those.
"When you get the ball five-feet away, you?ve got to make it," White said. "Five-feet and in are the easy ones."
Marshall?s season shooting percentage has slipped to 47.2 while Kent State continues to rank among the national leaders at 50.4 percent while losing four of its last five games.
Kent State lost a home game to Hawaii, 79-78, when the MAC went 0-for-Bracket Buster Saturday.
The Golden Flashes beat Marshall, 71-58, at home Jan. 18 with Antonio Gates scoring 18 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Gates is playing on a sprained right knee, but scored 30 points in 36 minutes of action against Hawaii. He averages 21.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists.
"He?s just a good basketball player," White said of KSU?s 6-foot-5, 250-pound senior. "He makes his teammates better. For them to win, he?s got to make his teammates better."
KSU junior guard Eric Haut (15.4 ppg) tops the MAC in three-point shooting, hitting 72-of-158 for 45.6 percent.
Marshall counters with Blackshear scoring 21.4 points per game and also needs him to perform well, White said. Blackshear leads the league in free throw shooting (88.3 percent) and in three-pointers per game (3.61).
Black averages 12.0 points and 8.6 rebounds for the Herd.
White said neither of the teams carries momentum, so it becomes a game of which one wants it the most.
kent/niu
kent/niu
Kent has had a few let downs for us lately this may be a fade for me with the other factor that seeing a lot of play on kent
which we all know what happens then
NIU love this game at 6.5 could'nt agree more Miami in a funk
good luck and thanks for the write ups
kent/niu
Kent has had a few let downs for us lately this may be a fade for me with the other factor that seeing a lot of play on kent
which we all know what happens then
NIU love this game at 6.5 could'nt agree more Miami in a funk
good luck and thanks for the write ups
